Sometimes we don’t know everything we think we know. My son Josh saves money better than I do, but when he was young he didn’t know all that he knows now.

One day, when Josh was about six years old he and I drove to the gas station. Before we paid for our gas we surveyed the candy aisle. We each picked out some candy. I grabbed an Almond Joy and Josh grabbed a special candy sucker that spun.

Satisfied with our choices we walked into the line at the register.

As we stood in line Josh reached into his pocket for some money. “That’s ok, I’ve got it,” I said. “No,” he insisted, “I want to pay for it.” I assured him that he should save his money but he insisted, “No, I can pay for it.”

While we waited in line I snuck a peak into his hand. While Josh held a sizable quantity of coins, he didn’t have enough money to pay for the candy sucker.

As I handed the cashier my credit card to pay for the gas I said, “We’ll pay for this separately,” and slid the candy forward. My candy bar cost fifty-two cents. I paid the cashier with a dollar and held the change in my hand.

With a smile on his face Josh slid his sucker forward. “Seventy-nine cents, please”, she said. Confidently, Josh placed his money on the counter and slid it forward to the waiting cashier. Awkwardly, she said, “Uhmm, I’m sorry, that’s not enough.”

Josh looked surprised, and sad.

The clerk looked at me.
I looked at Josh.
“Well?” I asked, curious what Josh would do.
“Can you pay?” he said sheepishly.
I surveyed the change I still held and together we paid for the candy.

It’s a simple but true analogy we have attributes and resources, but we don’t have everything we need.

We Can’t Meet All The Needs We’d Like To Satisfy

“Looking at his disciples, Jesus said, ‘Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who ‘have it all’ to enter God’s kingdom?’ The disciples couldn’t believe what they were hearing, but Jesus kept on: ‘You can’t imagine how difficult. I’d say it’s easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for the rich to get into God’s kingdom.‘” 1

Why? Because pride gets in the way of God’s provision, until we’re humble enough to ask for it.